A “Caesarian,”“Augustan,” or “Justinian” Worldview of Theoretical and Quantitative Geography?

An evolving world view of theoretical and quantitative geography is presented using an analogy from the development of the ancient Roman and Byzantine Empires between Julius Caesar in the first century BC to Justinian in the sixth century AD. This is used to set the discussion platform for a series of papers presented by participants from the early days of quantitative revolution in geography and its transformation into a robust and relevant spatial science. Current theoretical and quantitative geography needs to be, first, active in developing new ideas and applications, second, to continue to transform its methodology to be more societally relevant and scientifically robust and, third, to actively engage cultural critiques of these processes.     

The Berlin wall and the Bastille: Tearing down walls and building myths

This article first discusses the construction, destruction and consumption of the Berlin Wall, noting especially the different meanings of Mauer (the wall as a barrier) and Wand (the surface of a wall). It then compares the end of the Wall with the storming of the Bastille and its transformation into symbolic souvenirs. The fall of the Berlin Wall entered collective memory through mass participation in its destruction, rock concerts held around it, graffiti art and the purchase of Wall fragments. However, sections of the Wall are now being preserved to prevent it from being forgotten by future generations.